📱 Phone & Internet
Get connected on day one. Your phone is your lifeline.
Get a SIM Card First
This is your first priority after landing. A SIM card costs $3–10 and gives you a local number and data.
Unitel — best coverage, widely available
Lao Telecom — government network, reliable
ETL (Enterprise Telecom Laos) — good for rural areas
Buy at the airport, any convenience store, or carrier shops
Bring your passport — required for SIM registration
Data Plans
Daily: ~5,000–10,000 LAK ($0.25–$0.50) for 1GB
Weekly: ~25,000–50,000 LAK ($1.25–$2.50)
Monthly: ~80,000–150,000 LAK ($4–$8) for 10–30GB
Monthly is almost always the best value.
Essential Apps to Install
WhatsApp — the main way people communicate in Laos
Google Maps — works well in Vientiane and major cities
Google Translate — has offline Lao language pack
Wise or Remitly — for receiving money
A VPN app — for privacy and accessing some blocked content